Pearly white teeth

When it comes to making a good first impression, it helps if you smile and show a lovely set of pearly white teeth. We look at the latest techniques to get pearly white teeth.

When it comes to making a good first impression, it helps if you smile and show a lovely set of pearly white teeth.

The good news is that tooth decay in all adults has steadily decreased in the UK since the 1970s, according to the latest Adult Dental Health Survey (2009).

The bad news is that many people are still so unhappy about their teeth that they avoid smiling and eating in public.

An attractive smile

'Recent years have seen an increasing interest from patients in having a smile that isn't just healthy, but one that also looks attractive,' says Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association.

'This isn't surprising; a healthy, attractive smile can make you feel more confident and improve your quality of life.'

At the same time, the ability of dentists to help patients have the aesthetically-pleasing smile they desire has also increased, thanks to the constant evolution of modern treatments and technologies.

'As well as helping patients achieve the appearance they want, these breakthroughs are also helping nervous patients feel more confident about undergoing treatment and are reducing the pain that some treatments used to involve,' says Professor Walmsley.

Oral hygiene

Toothpastes today are extremely effective. Most now contain fluoride, which is a chemical that strengthens the teeth and protects against tooth decay.

But now scientists at the University of Newcastle may have found a more natural alternative.

Can seaweed clean teeth?

Microbes found on seaweed have been found to produce a special enzyme, which cuts through plaque, even in hard-to-reach areas of the mouth.

Dr Nicholas Jakubovics of Newcastle University's School of Dental Sciences says that seaweed toothpaste may be more effective than traditional versions, and the team are now planning to develop a paste, mouthwash or denture cleaning solution that harnesses seaweed power.

Another breakthrough that will be welcome news to the millions of people who need fillings is a high-tech plasma brush developed by engineers at the University of Missouri in the US.

Pain free fillings

Human trials are now underway for the instrument that promises to make fillings of the future pain free by using chemical reactions to disinfect and clean out cavities for fillings.

The procedure takes around 30 seconds and the chemical reaction strengthens the tooth, making the bond with the filling material more durable.

Dentists could be using the technology as early as next year.

'There have been no side-effects reported during the lab trials, and we expect the human trials to help us improve the prototype,' said Qingsong Yu, associate Professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Missouri.

Latest techniques

Tooth whitening

Tooth whitening is becoming one of the most popular aesthetic dental treatments in the UK and it has come a long way since it was first introduced.

Latest techniques include using lasers to activate a bleaching gel, which lightens the teeth.

The procedure usually takes approx 1 to 2 hours, depending on the level of staining.

Dentist Dr Mervyn Druian, director at the London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry, who counts former PM Gordon Brown among his patients, says that techniques are evolving all the time.

'Using a warm gentle thermal diffuser, raising the temperature of the bleaching gel very gently, has proved in my experience to be the most effective way of bleaching teeth in the dental practice. It's a very comfortable, relaxing procedure.'

Titanium implants

And for the six per cent of all adults have no teeth at all, titanium implants can now restore a full smile.

Although titanium implants have been around for decades, the adhesives used to fix the teeth onto metal have moved on leaps and bounds.

Mini implants

Mini implants, which are much smaller than traditional ones, are proving to be a solution for patients who would not normally be able to have implants at all.

'Today patients with poor quality bone and even diabetics, who take longer to heal, can be helped by mini implants, as opposed to the full-sized ones, which are more invasive,' says Dr Druian.

'However, while these developments are exciting, it remains key that we do not lose sight of the importance of the basic rules of good oral health,' advises Professor Walmsley.

'Brushing twice a day, visiting the dentist regularly and avoiding sugary food and drink between meals.'

What to avoid

Sports drinks and energy drinks

These may give you a boost, but they could be seriously damaging the enamel on your teeth, according to a US study published in a recent issue of General Dentistry.

After only five days of exposure to sports drinks, enamel was already damaged.

And energy drinks caused twice as much damage to teeth as sports drinks.

Smoking

As well as staining the enamel of teeth, smoking can lead to gum disease and damage the bones supporting the teeth.

'If you smoke, you will damage your teeth and ruin your health. It really is as simple as that,' says Dr Druian.

Drinking too much alcohol

A study in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology found that people who drink too much alcohol are three times more likely to suffer from severe gum disease compared to those who only drink occasionally.

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